Container with snap-open cover

ABSTRACT

A container having a snap-open cover in which the cover is provided with a skirt having a single arcuate cut-away portion, curled edge for strengthening and improved fulcrum zones joining the cut-away portion and curled edge which cooperates with a flattened peripheral ledge on the container bottom to facilitate opening in a snap action.

United States Patent [1 1 Burdick CONTAINER WITH SNAP-OPEN COVER [76]Inventor: Ralph V. Burdick, Colonial Green, Loudonville, NY.

[22] Filed: Apr. 1, 1971 21 Appl. No.: 130,267

52 us. c|..' 220/43 P 6/1967 Burdiclg, 220/43 P 12/1964 'Womer 220/43 PJune 26, 1973 6/1965 Meyerhoefer 220/43 P 8/1967 Burdick, Jr. 220/43 RPrimary Examiner-Herbert F. Ross Assistant Examiner-Stephen MarcusAttomey-Kane, Dalsimer, Kane, Sullivan and Kurucz [57] ABSTRACT Acontainer having a snap-open cover in which the cover is provided withaskirt having a single acruate cut-away portion, curled edge forstrengthening and improved fulcrum zones joining the cut-away portionand curled edge which cooperates with a flattened peripheral ledge onthe container bottom to facilitate opening in a snap action.

2 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures 1 CONTAINER WITH SNAP-OPEN COVER BACKGROUNDOF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to containers whereinare packaged, for the most part, semi-solid materials containingvolatiles, such as shoe polishes, waxes, ointments, creams, paints andthe like. The invention is described herein in terms of a container forpackaging shoe polishes for simplicity of description, however, it isrecognized that the particular description is by way of illustrationonly and the container described herein can be used for packaging anyproduct which could normally be contained within a metallic container.

Containers of this type and for the particular uses intended must bedesigned to maintain a substantially airtight fit between the cover andthe bottom portion. The cover and bottom are formed of resilientmaterial and the cover is generally provided with a depending skirtportion which maintains an airtight engagement with the wall of thebottom. For opening in a snap-open action the cover skirt is in theprior art provided with an arcuate cut-away portion whereby downwardpressure on the cover directly over the cut-away portion effects arocking of the cover about fulcrum points and the extremities of thecut-away portion causing the cover skirt opposite the cut-away portionto rise off the bottom side wall.

Examples of such containers are found in U.S. Pat. No. 3,130,857 andU.S. Pat. No. 3,327,890. In the U.S. Pat. No. 3,130,857 two cut-outportions are provided. One is provided in the zone of the cover whereatpressure for opening is applied while the remaining cut-out portion isprovided opposite the first cut-out portion to relieve or release thecover skirt from sealing engagement with the' container bottom portionwhen the opening force is applied. In U.S. Pat. No. 3,327,890 there isprovided a curl for strengthening the skirt of the cover in the zoneswhereat the cut-out portions are not present. I

The provision of two cut-away portions, as taught in the first of thesepatents, limits the effectiveness of the teaching of the second patent,namely strengthening through curling. Also, whenever uncurled coveredges are present there is scratching and scraping of adjacent covers orlids during storage, shipping and in the hopper. In addition, thenecessity of providing in fabrication the two cut-out portions presentsincreased problems.

It has been found that by improving the fulcrum action an improved andmore economical container can be provided with a single cut-away portionwhile providing the same effective sealing ability of the container.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION tant curled edges, and the cut-away portion andthe curled portion joined by depending fulcrum zones, the skirtsealingly embracing the beaded edge with each of the fulcrum zones and acontact zone of said curled portion opposite the cut-away portioncontacting the flattened ledge, whereby downward pressure on the coverabove the cut-away portion will unseat the cover as the fulcrum zonesvare pivoted on the ledge and the contact zone is disengaged of thebead.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the accompanying drawing:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a container constructed in accordance withthe teachings of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevation of the container shown in FIG. 1illustrating the arcuate cut-away portion of the skirt of the cover;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the container;

FIG. 4 is a rear elevation of the container illustrating the contactzone of the skirt of the cover;

FIG. 5 is a side elevation similar to the view of FIG. 1 with the coverpivoted to the opening position;

FIG. 6 is a front elevation view similar to the view of FIG. 2 but withthe cover pivoted to the opening position as in'FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary elevation taken along the line 7-7 in thedirection of the arrows in FIG. 3 illustrating a fulcrum zone of thecover contacting the flattened ledge of the bottom when the cover is inthe closed position;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along the line 88 in the direction ofthe arrows in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary elevation similar to that of FIG. 7 butillustrating a fulcrum zone when the cover is in an intermediateposition between closed and open positions;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken along the line 10-10 in the directionof the arrows in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary elevation similar to FIGS. 7 and 9 butillustrating a fulcrum zone when the cover is in the position ofopening; and

FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken along the line 1212 in the directionof the arrows in FIG. 11.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In the drawings there is shown acontainer which has been constructed in accordance with the teachings ofthis invention for use in containing semi-solid materials such as shoepolish or the like. The container comprises a cover portion 10 andbottom portion 12.

The bottom portion has an upwardly extending side wall 14 which isprovided with a top peripheral edge 16 herein shown as having anoutwardly expanded, rolled over, beaded edge around which the properseal is effected by engagement with the cover portion as describedbelow. An outwardly directed flattened periph eral ledge 18 is formed insaid side wall 14 intermediate thereof. I

The cover portion 10 is provided with a downwardly directed circularskirt 20 which is joined to the top surface 22 of the cover by astrengthening knuckle 24 as is common in the art. A stacking ridge whichis also known in the art is shown and indicated by the numeral 26.

The skirt is provided with an arcuate cut-away portion 28 which extendsover a distance of the skirt which is not more than half thecircumference thereof. The

ieneslsohm32,15: mvidedw h a strengthening ourl a distancconsiderablyless than oneehalf the e 1 pletely overlies and seat ing the desiredseal.

the open position),

re rneirider of the. skirt, withthefeitception of fulcrum j Iciairnislightly below the curled portion. I; 3 In theembodimentdisclosedhereirrwhich istl' e ferred embodimen tgthecutawayportionexten s ference or the skirt; n F gs. 1,1,4, manutsfme 5 7 coveris shown mine closed; positio with fulcrum zones 30 and 32 abuttingflthe upper surface offlutteried ledge 18. Since the fulc'rum zonesprojectslightlybelo the curled portiohga srnlallf space existsbetweenythep upper surface of ledge 18 andcurl 34 adjacenpeaeh of f thefulcrum zones 30 and S Zfin the closed flposition of the cover. Theseslightsp aceswhich arj somewhaftlekagge rated in the Pigs;zjtreyindicated byjfthendmgrglSQfi and BSQA zone ofcurl341dirctlyoppdsitelcti eivay Portion 28 is indicdwdib. he HW le miiiwainipilffilfiu aunt abutting the upper of flattened jleldge lstlye}y adjaicgmi gain of said fulcrum zongs nlheslosued pppositqsaideueawa 1 ortioiabuein said] flattened The cover is showndinyepositionidentified herein as the open position inFIG.S.;5, 6 ,f11 hhdllzindisyshown in FIGS .9 and 10in a position intermediate betwee the closedand open positionslb When it is desired topper; the container, aiforceis applied to the coverabbvecut-away porti'od28asfill: trated by thearrow in F lqf l causing thedepend j fulcrum zones to roll;ojrlftheiipper surface offledgejf as illustrated by thebrokenli rieslabeled and C in FIGS. 8, .10 and 123mm: pivoting of the eover about 1these points of contactQThe eontactzoneidfl is r ais edk; and passesover the "bead 1621s the coverflntovesifrorn the closed position throughthe interrn cjstepositiontoh FIG. 7 is a sectionqtakenfon FIG. 3 atthefulcr um zone 32. FlGS. 9 a nd \11ares iews sirhilartoFlG; FIG. 11'being thelopen position of theacover ahdFIG 9 being aninterm ediate' gition. Sincetliejer t cut away portion occupiesa; p ir t' or section of{the circuit: ferenee of theski ft whibhj is; less thanone cumference.The ehanging of the contgictpomtio fulcrum and the upperlsurface ofledge .JSQes IIus "on the fulcrum zones and thatlin the"elosedpositionof"

1. In a container of the character described, adapted for use incontaining semi-solid material such as shoe polish and the like, havinga cover portion and a bottom portion: said bottom portion including acircular bottom, an upwardly extending side wall, a top beaded edge ofsaid side wall, and an outwardly formed flattened peripheral ledgeintermediate said side wall; said cover portion including a top surface,a downwardly extending resilient skirt joined to said top surface at theperiphery thereof, a single arcuate cut-away portion of said skirt, acurled portion of said skirt formed with bending resistant curled edges,uncurled fulcrum zones joining said cut-away portion and said curledportion and depending below said curled portion, said skirt sealinglyembracing said beaded edge with each of said fulcrum zones and a contactzone of said curled portion opposite said cut-away portion abutting saidflattened ledge in the closed position of said cover, said dependingfulcrum zones providing spaces between the upper surface of said ledgeand said curled portion respectively adjacent each of said fulcrum zonesin the closed position of said cover, whereby downward pressure on saidcover above said cut-away portion will unseat said cover as said fulcrumzones are pivoted on said ledge and said contact zone is disengaged ofsaid bead.
 2. A cover for a container adapted for use in containingsemi-solid material such as shoe polish and the like, said cover tocooperate with a bottom portion including a circular bottom, an upwardlyextending side wall, a top beaded edge of said side wall, and anoutwardly formed flattened peripheraL ledge intermediate said side wall;said cover portion including a top surface, a downwardly extendingresilient skirt joined to said top surface at the periphery thereof, asingle arcuate cut-away portion of said skirt, a curled portion of saidskirt formed with bending resistant curled edges, uncurled fulcrum zonesjoining said cut-away portion and said curled portion and dependingbelow said curled portion, said skirt sealingly embracing said beadededge with each of said fulcrum zones and a contact zone of said curledportion opposite said cut-away portion abutting said flattened ledge inthe closed position of said cover, said depending fulcrum zonesproviding spaces between the upper surface of said ledge and said curledportion respectively adjacent each of said fulcrum zones in the closedposition of said cover, whereby downward pressure on said cover abovesaid cut-away portion will unseat said cover as said fulcrum zones arepivoted on said ledge and said contact zone is disengaged of said bead,and said cut-away portion extending over a distance of said skirt whichis less than one-half the circumference of the skirt presenting a curlededge over the major portion thereof reducing scraping of adjacent coversduring storage, shipping and in the hopper.